Jurors in Sheridan trial at a deadlock

Judge tells panel to 'carefully' consider opinions overnight

Jurors in former “Desperate Housewives” actress Nicollette Sheridan’s wrongful termination trial informed a Los Angeles Judge on Thursday that they are having difficulty reaching a verdict.

After a little more than a day of deliberations, the jury of nine women and three men were told by Judge Elizabeth Allen White to return in the morning and continue.

She urged them to carefully consider their opinions overnight. She asked the jury foreman if they needed to hear additional arguments, exhibits or other information, but he replied, “I don’t believe so.”

After the jurors left the courtroom, White told Sheridan and attorneys gathered, “I can send them back a number of times, but ultimately if they are deadlocked, they are deadlocked.”

“To come back after one day and say they have a deadlock is too early,” said Mark Baute, one of Sheridan’s attorneys. “She basically told them to be nice to each other and continue their thinking.”

Adam Levin, who is representing Touchstone, said through a spokesman that he had no comment.

Sheridan sued Touchstone and “Desperate Housewives” creator Marc Cherry in 2010, claiming her character was written out of the show in retaliation for complaining about an incident in which he struck her on the head. Cherry claims that he merely gave her a “tap” as part of direction for a scene.